WE INHERITED $250K—AND DECIDED TO SPEND IT ON OURSELVES, NOT OUR KIDS

My last memory of my parents’ generosity. Saving conservatively and not going on trips, just so the total we saved in our lifetime would fit in the end.

My wife then looked at me and said, “What would happen if we didn’t change?”

Not just so it can be used for their own benefit. Even so, it doesn’t mean we don’t love them. We do. Deeply. I encouraged all of them to work towards their own goals in life. And truthfully? For years, we made our own needs low on our list of priorities.

What they did wasn’t motivated by gaining money for themselves. It was mainly focused on what we went through.

That brought us to decide on purchasing a camper.

It’s as simple as a place with a bed and stove where you can watch the sun dip beyond your state borders.

We highlighted all the National Parks on our maps. Getting lost happened to us more than once. Drinking wine, we were free from having cell towers as our company. We realized we could act like ourselves, and not only like a parent.The interesting thing is that

Our kids didn’t react angrily when we revealed the news to them. The actors really found it funny.

“Please spend your money,” advised our son. Don’t think that hard work is only about paying bills and watching the kids.Now, here in Montana, maybe, we’re out shooting pictures and escaping the box of the past.

This inheritance wasn’t only made up of money.

It suddenly allowed us to have fun and lead a life we hadn’t experienced up to then. As we drove in our camper, it turned into a small,

happy place that reminded us of let go of all the years spent doing I were doing to please everyone else. I felt a thousand times freer as we went on trips without knowing exactly where we were going.

I found it hard at first to care about my own needs. Keeping in mind all the fun and activities we could have given to the kids was difficult for me.

maybe we could have helped them pay for college or purchase their homes for the first time It was obvious that the children were capable of coping by themselves.

At that time, our daughter launched a business and our son was engaged in projects that brought him true happiness. They didn’t depend on us to improve their situation. For a long period, we focused only on our kids’ demands, and we almost forgot our own needs.

It took us weeks to drive through deserts, forests, mountains, and valleys, just the two of us, bringing up our past as a way to remember who we were before parenting.

We sang to our favorite old songs while listening to the radio, ate at local diners, and explored new hiking paths we didn’t expect to walk. Even though we were married, it felt like our chats were really new, as though we were falling for each other all over again. It wasn’t only the camper we gained from the money; we got our relationship back as well.

We spent one night after a hike in a National Park by parking our camper by a lake. The sky became colored orange and purple as the sun went down. We had a glass of wine while enjoying the silence and learning from one another.

“Oh, I wasn’t aware how big a hole this left in our lives,” whispered my wife, as she played with her glass. We’ve been so much focused on caring for other people’s feelings and opinions. I don’t remember what sharing time as a ‘couple’ was about. “I realize that,” I answered, looking at the scenery. Yet, it can be quite interesting to think about. To me, providing our kids with all our resources made us good parents. However, I feel differently about it now. We might have missed out on the most important thing by not letting ourselves show and live who we are.

As the music ended, we just sat quietly, absorbing how wonderful everything was. The process took its own time. No deadlines. It was just us, out in the wild on our own and surrounded by the world.

However, things suddenly developed in a different way. We stopped in Wyoming for a short time at the start of our fourth month of travelling. You would not even see it unless you were looking in the area between large open spaces.

As soon as we reached a local diner for breakfast, we started talking to the friendly owner, who was an elderly woman called Mae. She gave off a friendly vibe that made people feel they were old friends despite only meeting for a short time. Mae began to share with us over coffee her story, the troubles she faced, and the goals she had in life. Even though Alice rarely traveled outside the town and was always caring for others, she always wanted to see more of the world.

While we were listening for a long time, we started to see something special. All I wanted was to travel and watch the sunset with Mae, while Mae waited for all the happiness she had wanted to have before.

The idea bothered us a lot. As we had money, we were hoping for the freedom to live, yet maybe it can offer more benefits than that? Or perhaps it could make it possible for Mae to reach her goal?

We talked about it that evening and started the following day with another visit to Mae’s diner. We explained to her that we hoped to offer her support to experience life similar to how we had.

We didn’t plan anything and didn’t know what would happen, so we gave her some of the money from the inheritance. It provided her with plenty to help her leave the diner for a while and travel to some new places.

She didn’t know what to say at the beginning; she felt too proud to take it, but we did not give up. You have always been responsible for helping others through your life. Here comes your chance to make your own path in life. The words she heard made her eyes fill with tears and she responded with a yes. Within a few months, we began to receive postcards from different places Mae had only dreamed of and things she didn’t think she’d ever do. It was amazing to see someone move past the chains they have held themselves in for a long time.

The events affected Mae and others around her. Our kids became inspired to rethink their lives because of how we managed our inheritance.After witnessing Mae’s courage, our son determined to take a year away from his job so that he could travel and photograph. Thinking as always big, our daughter tried to combine business with efforts to help people in need, using what she does best.

It got even more surprising when we realized, some months after the trip, that Mae decided to help others in her hometown who had put their dreams aside just as she had. With our help, she devoted the money to traveling and also to helping others achieve the lives they always wanted.

The most incredible thing about it is internal forces. People in the town heard about Mae’s situation. People who never thought such changes were possible started doing things that brought them closer to what they wanted. The consequences became much bigger than we expected, starting with only one small act.Overall, having freedom was not the only thing we received from our inheritance. It helped us to assist others in a meaningful way, not only for ourselves. Money was given to us so we could do something special, not only for us.

This made me realize that being generous can mean small actions and support as well. There are times when we have to identify someone’s potential and help them realize it.

What this story teaches is that your cup needs to be full before giving to anyone else. Oftentimes, it helps to rest and recharge yourself so you have enough strength to give back. Finally, what makes it truly enjoyable is seeing that helping people goes beyond money; it’s about sharing your life with them and helping them figure out what they want.As we go on with our travels, I keep remembering what a difference that cleared check made in our lives. We didn’t only get money, but we also got the opportunity to lead significant lives, assist others, and cherish every moment.

If you face the chance to give, understand that it’s important what your gift accomplishes, regardless of how much it may be.If this story touched you, go ahead and share it with someone who could benefit from reading it. Share the happiness through these real experiences one at a time.

 

Leave a Comment